Gezicht op het Abdijplein te Middelburg, 1743 1746

Jan Caspar Philips created this print of the Abdijplein in Middelburg in 1743. The print depicts the square of the Abbey, in a period in which the Dutch Republic was a major center of global trade and culture. The image conveys the architectural and social structure of the Netherlands at the time. The Abbey represented not only religious authority, but also political power, as it was the seat of the States of Zeeland, one of the provinces of the Dutch Republic. The figures in the square, dressed in the fashion of the time, give the viewer a sense of the social life that took place here. The dog may represent loyalty, and also a certain level of wealth and status. To fully understand this print, one would want to research the history of Middelburg, the role of the Abbey, and the social and economic conditions of the Dutch Republic in the 18th century. By examining these historical and cultural contexts, we can better understand the public role of art.